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Welcome to the jungle

22 October 2008

An introduction to the animal inhabitants of David Bintley's 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café.

'Still Life' at the Penguin Café features a whole host of dancing, prancing animal cameos, each to a different piece of music by Simon Jeffes' Penguin Café Orchestra. The creatures you'll meet in the ballet are as follows:

The Greak Auk

The hosts of the Penguin Café, the Great Auk welcome everyone who cares to visit, offering refreshment and shelter who anyone who needs it. A symbol of the ballet's environmental theme, the Great Auk was originally native to the waters of Britain, Ireland, Norway, Greenland, Iceland and Eastern Canada, before the bird was driven to extinction in the 19th century by hunters.

The Great Auk dances to the graceful rise-and-fall of 'Air à danser'. You can hear the piece being played by Simon Jeffes and the Penguin Café Orchestra on YouTube by clicking here

Utah Longhorn Ram

Complete with tuxedoed partner and glittering ballgown, the Utah Longhorn Ram twirls and turns her way around the stage. The only sheep you'll ever see suitable for Strictly Come Dancing!

The dancers begin slowly to the sound of a lone cello, muted drum beat and head-nodding ukulele. The instruments are joined by a toe-tapping guitar, building gradually and picking up pace as the dancers whirl and glide, before both slide away into nothing as gracefully as they appeared.

You can hear a clip of the music, entitled 'Prelude and Yodel' on YouTube by clicking here.

Texan Kangaroo Rat

Not yet extinct, but currently classed as endangered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Kanagroo Rat is making the most of its existence!

An energetic workout of bowed and plucked strings accompanies him as he leaps and turns about the stage in a joyous freewheeling celebration of life. Eventually, when he has exhausted every last bit of energy from his tiny body, he rolls into a ball and falls fast asleep!

Humbolt's Hog-nosed Skunk Flea

Leaping into the centre of a group of spinning morris dancers, Humbolt's Hog-nosed Skunk Flea almost doesn't notice as the dancers return to the middle of the circle to crack their sticks together.

Just in time, the flea dives out of the way, and so begins a twisting, twirling routine as the sprightly insect tries to keep dancing without getting swatted!

Southern Cape Zebra

The Southern Cape Zebra appears amid a fanfare of horns, resplendent in the most exotic make-up of the performance. Proud and preening, the animal strikes a series of poses, bending and turning with athletic grace and noble prowess.

The emotional core of the ballet, however, the Zebra is spotted by hidden hunters, and the creature's defiant movements risk being brought to a dramatically sudden conclusion.

Brazilian Woolly Monkey

The final character to be introduced in the ballet, the Brazilian Woolly Monkey takes on ringmaster duties, appearing in top hat and tails to parade around the stage.

Swaggering horns and crisp percussion provide a brisk backdrop for his to strutting and showing off, as he leaps around in his finery, obviously loving the attention of the audience.

The ballet has a serious theme, presenting an array of animals who at the time the piece was created were either already extinct or on the brink of dying out. However, rather than preach, the piece instead uses gloriously colourful characters like the Brazilian Woolly Monkey to celebrate these creatures, showing us exactly what we could be missing out on.

ENDS

DVDs of 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café are available via the Birmingham Royal Ballet on-line shop. Click here to take a look.